Container for safely striking matches



- D. E. REID 2,604,980

July 29, 1952 CONTAINER FOR SAFELY s DWELLE f. RE/D BY k -M ATTORNEY Patented July 29, 1952 CONTAINER invention which has an abrasive surface for striking matches. The primary object is to prevent accidental ignition of the matches.

In its preferred embodiment the invention concerns a match box of the drawer type which, when open gives access to the contents, but conceals a striking surface. The object ofthe invention is to provide a striking surface accessible only when the drawer is closed.

Usually those containers which have the striking surface on the outside of the case subject the user to the hazard of burns caused by the accidental lighting of the matches in the container by the flame from a match struck on the container, if a match is struck while the drawer is open. While attempts have been made to prevent accidental ignition of match box contents by so placing a striking surface on a drawer that is accessible only when the drawer is closed, the prior proposals have not been safe because they failed to contemplate the complete removal of the drawer, or the taking of other steps by the user which destroy the value of the safety feature. With the foregoing in view, the object of this invention is to provide a striking surface inaccessible to the user if the drawer of the container is opened to expose the contents. In addition, it is intended to guard against the removal of the drawer from its case and thus prevent the user from utilizing the striking surface while the drawer is entirely open.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following specification and drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partially broken away, showing the match box closed;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the match box opened; and,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-section taken vertically through the middle of the match box.

Referring now to the drawing, in which like reference numerals denote similar elements, the match box indicated generally at 2 includes an open-ended case 3 slidably supporting a drawer 4. The striking surface 6 is formed of suitable abrasive, covering a comparatively small area of one side of drawer 4. On one side of case 3 there is a window 8, substantially coextensive in size with striking surface 6 and registering with the striking surface only when the drawer is fully closed.

In order to prevent complete removal of drawer 4, and also to predetermine that the drawer may i Q. A lieation Noveiiiber 1 MATCHES Dwell E'.j aeia,'c1iai1u, o. 1 3,1950,serai mgitgaap 3 1 Claim. (cifiziiis zmi 9 H v relates.. to 'containers for matches"and, more particularly, a container IFOR SAFELY smut-m 1} '7 Y? be opened only one direction for alihiited distancepthere is provided a slot l0, which in the illustrated embodiment is on drawer 4 and a cooperative stop I2, on case 3. When the drawer 4 is in a closed position as shown in Fig. 1, the end lb of a slot l0 and stop I 2 prevent drawer 4 from opening backwardly, or in the one direction which would give simultaneous access to both the contents of the container and the striking surface B, and also predetermine that, when the drawer 4 is closed as far as possible, striking surface 6 and window 8 are in registry. It will be noted that case 3 is longer than drawer 4. When drawer 4 is completely closed, the overhanging 3 extends beyond the front end of drawer 4 for a distance at least equal to the length of striking surface 6. Thus when, opening the drawer, striking surface 6 is completely masked by case 3 before the contents of drawer 4 become accessible. Slot I0 is sufficiently. long to permit the drawer to be openedfar enough to gain access to the matches but not so far as to expose any portion of the striking surface beyond case 3. The complete removal of drawer 4 from case 3 is, of course, prevented by slot l0 and stop l2.

In operation, the user slides drawer 4 to the left from the position shown in Fig. 1 to open the drawer, whereupon the striking surface 6 slides behind the side wall of case 3 where it is completely masked. The overhanging end 5 of case 3 assures the complete masking of striking surface 6 before the end of drawer 4 protrudes from the overhanging end 5 of case 3. Only by complete reversal of this procedure, i. e., by closing drawer 4 does the striking surface 6 become accessible.

The invention thus described is not limited to the exact form and details described above, but is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions within the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

In a sliding drawer matchbox an open-ended generally rectangular casing having top, bottom and side walls, a generally rectangular drawer having side, bottom and end walls, said drawer being slidable lengthwise in one direction in said casing between a. fully closed position in which said drawer is completely contained within said casing and a fully open position in which one end of said drawer extends beyond the corresponding end of said casing for a predetermined distance, said casing having a window in a side wall thereof.

front end 5, case 3 movement, of 1 said drawer through said slot; said said drawer having a striking surface on a side wall thereof registering behind the window when said drawer is fully closed and being substantially co-extensive in length with said window, said casing being longer than said drawer by an amount at least as great as the length of said striking surface whereby during the course of I from said fully closed position to, s'aidfuliy open position,.said striking surface is moved therewith from its position in registry behind said window of said casing before the end of said drawer -pr0 ieots beyond said casing and whereby said striking surface remains concealed between the -ad- 15 1,702,133

jacent side wall of the casing during the further opening movements of said drawer to saidfully open position,

and a stop on the bottom oi said casing extending slothaving a back en'd engaged by: said stop when "said drawer fully to a position of com- H plete concealment behind the adjacent side wall said drawer having an elongate slot extending lengthwise in the bottom thereof} closed and having a front end engaged by said stop when said drawer is fully open, whereby to prevent opening of said drawer in backward direction and to prevent further opening of said drawer beyond said predetermined distance.

DWELLE E. REID.

REFERENCES CITED The kfollowjing references, are of record in the .Great.-Bri-tain. J May 17; i923 

